Rigid wrapper containing packets of cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Packets of cigarettes appearing prismatic in shape with a triangular cross section are ordered side by side and in direct contact one with another to form a group alignable on a predominating longitudinal axis, with the axes of the single packets transverse to the direction of alignment. The assembled group of packets is prismatic in shape, with a longitudinal section of trapezoidal appearance, and wrapped in a rigid carton aligned likewise on the predominating longitudinal axis, similarly prismatic and presenting a longitudinal profile of isosceles trapezoidal outline.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rigid wrapper serving to containpackets of cigarettes.

The term wrapper is employed generically herein to indicate rigidcontainers, known as “cartons”, designed to accommodate packets ofcigarettes which as a general rule are of substantially rectangularparallelepiped geometry.

A first type of wrapper appears substantially as a flattenedparallelepiped with sharp corner edges, referable to a predominatinglongitudinal axis, and contains a plurality of packets disposed onebeside the next, placed in contact one with another in such a way as toform one or more rows extending along the longitudinal axis.

A second type of wrapper presents a substantially parallelepipedappearance with sharp corner edges, in this instance referable to avertical axis, and comprises a cupped container with a lid likewise ofcupped embodiment, connected to the container by way of a hinge andcapable thus of rotating between open and closed positions respectivelyexposing and concealing an open top end of the container, also areinforcing frame projecting from the open top end, by which the lid isretained when in the closed position. With this type of wrapper, packetsare placed in contact one with another and ordered in two rows alignedalong respective axes disposed transversely to the vertical axis of theselfsame wrapper.

The two types of rigid wrapper outlined above are not suitable ascartons for packets of cigarettes exhibiting a shape other than that ofa rectangular parallelepiped.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid wrapperobtainable starting from a flat diecut blank embodied as simply andeconomically as possible, able to accommodate packets of cigarettespresenting a shape notably different to that of a rectangularparallelepiped, and moreover, requiring a relatively modest quantity ofwrapping material for its manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized according to the invention in a rigidwrapper containing multiple packets of cigarettes, referable to a givenpredominating longitudinal axis and comprising a bottom face ofrectangular outline, an access opening parallel to the bottom face andof rectangular outline, two mutually convergent flank faces associatedwith respective shorter sides of the bottom face, also mutually parallelfront and rear faces associated with respective longer sides of thebottom face and presenting a longitudinal profile of trapezoidaloutline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the rigid wrapper according tothe present invention, viewed in perspective;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a diecut blank from which to fashion thewrapper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the rigid wrapper according tothe present invention, viewed in perspective;

FIG. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of the wrapper of FIG. 1,viewed in perspective.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a rigid wrapper, in itsentirety, designed to hold multiple packets 2 of cigarettes of the type,in particular, as disclosed in patent EP 1240088, incorporated here byreference in the interests of providing a full description; the singlepacket 2 comprises an outer wrapper 3 appearing as a prism ofsubstantially triangular cross section, hence with three adjoining sidefaces 4 of substantially rectangular outline all disposed parallel witha predominating longitudinal axis 5 of the prism, and two substantiallytriangular end faces 6.

The wrapper 1 is referable to a predominating longitudinal axis denoted“L” disposed transversely to the axes 5 of the packets 2 of cigarettes,and appears as a prism of substantially trapezoidal longitudinalsection.

In particular, it will be seen that the wrapper 1 presents alongitudinal section identifiable as isosceles trapezoidal in outline,and that the trapezoidal outline is displayed by a front face 7 and arear face 8.

More exactly, the aforementioned front and rear faces 7 and 8 of thewrapper 1 extend parallel to the predominating longitudinal axis “L”,adjoining two respective longer sides 9 of a substantially rectangularbottom face 10 and two flank faces 11 disposed transversely to thesesame three faces 7, 8 and 10, the two flank faces 11 in turn similarlyadjoining relative shorter sides 12 of the bottom face 10. Thus, thelonger and shorter sides 9 and 12 of the bottom face coincide withbottom corner edges of the wrapper 1.

The wrapper 1 also presents an access opening of rectangular outline,denoted 13, occupying a plane parallel to the bottom face 10 andaffording a passage through which the packets 2 contained in the wrapper1 can be removed.

As discernible in the drawings, the front and rear faces 7 and 8 ofisosceles trapezoidal outline occupy planes perpendicular to the planeoccupied by the bottom face 10. Each of the two trapezoidal faces 7 and8 presents a longer base 7 a and 8 a adjoining the longer side 9 of thebottom face 10, a shorter base 7 b and 8 b adjoining a longer side ofthe opening 13, and two angled sides 7 c and 8 c each adjoining arelative flank face 11.

The two flank faces 11 are of rectangular outline and inclined relativeto the plane occupied by the bottom face 10. Also, each flank face 11presents a top edge 11 a adjoining a respective shorter side of theaccess opening 13, a bottom edge 11 b adjoining a shorter side 12 of thebottom face 10, and two side edges 11 c each adjoining one angled side 7c or 8 c of a respective front or rear face 7 or 8.

In practice, each bottom edge 11 b coincides with an acute corner edge,whilst each top edge 11 a coincides with an obtuse corner edge, giventhat the flank faces 11 converge upwardly toward the opening 13.

In the example of FIG. 1, the rigid wrapper 1 presents a top face 14 ofwhich the outline matches the outline of the opening 13. In short, thetop face 14 presents a rectangular outline of the same dimensions as theopening 13, which are smaller than the dimensions of the bottom face 10.

The top face 14 of the wrapper 1 is joined to the rear face 8 along ahinge line “A” coinciding with the shorter base 8 b aforementioned, andcapable of movement thus between a closed position (not shown in theaccompanying drawings), disposed parallel to the bottom face 10 andoccluding the opening 13, and an open position (as in FIG. 1), distancedfrom the opening 13.

In the example of FIG. 3, the rigid wrapper 1 is not furnished with atop face 14 as in FIG. 1. In this instance the opening 13 remainsuncovered and the packets 2 contained in the wrapper 1 are exposed toview.

In both the examples mentioned (FIGS. 1 and 3), the rigid wrapper 1 canalso be furnished with an outer protective covering, or overwrap,fashioned from a transparent and heat-shrinkable material such aspolypropylene. In the example of FIG. 3, accordingly, where the wrapper1 has an open top, the packets 1 contained in the selfsame wrapper areheld in place by the overwrap.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the packets 2 of cigarettes,illustrated in phantom lines, are arranged within the respective wrapper1 mutually parallel and in contact one with another, so as to form atleast one group denoted 15. The assembled group 15 is of prismaticgeometry, presenting a trapezoidal longitudinal section matching that ofthe wrapper 1.

The group 15 of packets comprises a first row 15 a of packets 2 disposedwith respective side faces 4 offered to and resting on the insidesurface of the bottom face 10, and with respective triangular end faces6 offered to the inside surfaces of the front face 7 and the rear face8. In this situation, the packets 2 of the first row 15 a are placedside by side with respective corner edges directed toward the opening13.

The group 15 further comprises a second row 15 b of packets 2 disposedwith respective side faces 4 offered to and facing the access opening13, and with respective triangular end faces 6 offered to the insidesurfaces of the front and rear faces 7 and 8. The packets 2 of thissecond row 15 b are placed with respective corner edges directed towardthe bottom face 10.

It will be seen that each packet 2 of the second row 15 b is interposedbetween two corresponding packets 2 of the first row 15 a. Consequently,the number of packets 2 making up the second row 15 b is less than thenumber of packets 2 making up the first row 15 a.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the group 15 includes ninepackets 2 of cigarettes, of which five make up the first row 15 a andfour the second row 15 b.

The wrapper 1 might be proportioned to contain any given number ofpackets 2, arranged with the packets of the second row 15 b interposedbetween those of the first row 15 a.

In the example of FIG. 4, the packets 2 are arranged internally of thewrapper 1 in such a way as to form two groups 15 positioned one on topof another and making up a single group of prismatic geometry thatpresents a longitudinal section of trapezoidal outline. In thisparticular instance, the first row 15 a of the top group 15 presents thesame number of packets 2 as the second row 15 b of the bottom group 15.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wrapper 1 is fashioned from a flat diecut blank16 of wrapping material, of which the component parts will be indicatedwhere possible using the same numbers, primed, as those used to indicatethe corresponding parts of the wrapper 1.

The blank 16 is substantially rectangular, with an axis of symmetry 17disposed transversely to the predominating longitudinal axis “L”, andpresents two transverse crease lines 18 and 19, also a plurality oflongitudinal precreased areas 20, 21, 22 and 23 extending parallel tothe aforementioned longitudinal axis “L”. The areas 20, 21, 22 and 23 inquestion delimit a plurality of longitudinal panels 7′, 8′, 10′ and 14′extending between the transverse crease lines 18 and 19 and coincidingrespectively with corresponding faces 7, 8, 10 and 14 of the finishedwrapper 1, as well as at least one longitudinal connecting flap 14 a.

At least one of the aforementioned longitudinal panels is associated atthe opposite ends with two end folds 11′ of substantially rectangularoutline. In effect, the two end folds 11′ are joined along theaforementioned transverse crease lines 18 and 19 to the central panel10′ of the flat blank, as seen in FIG. 2, which corresponds to thebottom face 10 of the wrapper.

To advantage, at least two further panels 7′ and 8′ located on eitherside of the central panel 10′ are furnished at the opposite ends withrespective tongues 24 that will be connected ultimately to therespective end folds 11′, with which they combine to establish the flankfaces 11 of the wrapper 1.

The panels 7′ and 8′ presenting the tongues 24, which coinciderespectively with the front and rear faces 7 and 8 of the wrapper 1, areassociated with the central panel 10′ along respective longitudinalprecreased areas 20 and 21 coinciding each with a longer side 9 of thebottom face 10.

Accordingly, once the blank is bent along the areas 20 and 21 delimitingthe panels denoted 7′ and 8′, and the end folds 11′ are bent along thetransverse crease lines 18 and 19, the tongues 24 can be offered to theinside surfaces of the end folds 11′. The tongues 24 are bentadvantageously along respective end portions 18 a and 19 a of thetransverse crease lines 18 and 19, by way of which the selfsame tongues24 are joined to the relative panels 7′ and 8′.

As discernible in FIGS. 1 and 4, the tongues 24 are united with theinside surfaces of the relative end folds 11′ to form the two flankfaces 11.

The step of bending the end folds 11′ involves rotating each of thefolds into alignment with the end portions 18 a and 19 a of thetransverse crease lines 18 and 19, which coincide with the angled sides7 c and 8 c of the front and rear faces 7 and 8. Thus, the end folds 11′will be inclined in the manner already described, and the assembly ofthe flank faces 11 can be completed.

Also forming part of the blank 16 illustrated in FIG. 2, which producesthe wrapper shown by way of example in FIG. 1, is a panel 14′ extendingfrom the panel 8′ that provides the rear face 8 of the wrapper 1.

The panel 14′ in question coincides with the top face 14 of the wrapper(FIG. 1), and is joined to the adjacent panel 8′ via a longitudinalprecreased area 22 providing the hinge line “A” about which the selfsametop face 14 rotates between the open and closed positionsaforementioned.

The connecting flap 14 a is associated with the panel 14′ defining thetop face 14, on the side opposite from the side associated with thepanel 8′ defining the rear face 8.

The connecting flap 14 a presents an isosceles trapezoidal outline andis joined to the panel 14′ along a precreased longitudinal area 23coinciding with one longer side of the top face 14.

As illustrated to better advantage in FIG. 1, the flap 14 a can beoffered to the inside surface of the front face 7 when the top face 14is in the closed position.

The wrapper 1 presents longitudinal corner edges, afforded by theprecreased longitudinal areas 20, 21, 22 and 23, which might be roundedor beveled. Similarly (as in the case of the cigarette packet disclosedin European Patent Application EP 764595, incorporated here by referencein the interests of providing a full description), the wider transversecorner edges generated by the transverse crease lines 18 and 19 could benon-rectilinear edges, again rounded or beveled; alternatively, certainof the longitudinal corner edges and certain of the transverse corneredges could be non-rectilinear, thereby combining both longitudinal andtransverse non-rectilinear rounded or beveled corner edges in the samepack.

The wrapper 1 described above offers important advantages.

Firstly, the wrapper 1 is able to accommodate cigarette packets 2 ofshape appreciably different to the familiar rectangular parallelepipedformat. In effect, the cigarette packets 2 described and illustrated inthis instance present a triangular cross-sectional profile.

In addition, the wrapper 1 is fashioned from a flat blank 16 that can beproduced in one piece and therefore, to advantage, using a relativelylimited amount of material. Accordingly, the wrapper 1 is structurallysimple, and economical to manufacture.

1. A rigid wrapper containing packets of cigarettes, referable to agiven predominating longitudinal axis, prismatic in appearance andpresenting a trapezoidal longitudinal section.
 2. A wrapper as in claim1, wherein the longitudinal section is of isosceles trapezoidal outline.3. A wrapper as in claim 1, comprising a bottom face of rectangularoutline; an access opening parallel to the bottom face and ofrectangular outline; two mutually opposed flank faces associated withrespective shorter sides of the bottom face; also a front face and arear face parallel one with another and associated with respectivelonger sides of the bottom face.
 4. A wrapper as in claim 3, wherein thefront and rear faces occupy planes perpendicular to the plane occupiedby the bottom face and present an isosceles trapezoidal outline composedof a longer base adjoining the longer side of the bottom face, a shorterbase adjoining a longer side of the access opening, and two angled sideseach adjoining a respective flank face.
 5. A wrapper as in claim 4,wherein each of the flank faces occupies a plane inclined relative tothe plane occupied by the bottom face and presents a top edge adjoininga shorter side of the access opening, a bottom edge adjoining a shorterside of the bottom face, and two side edges each adjoining a respectiveangled side of the front and rear face.
 6. A wrapper as in claim 3,further comprising a top face of which the outline matches the outlineof the opening, joined to at least the front face or the rear face alonga hinge line and capable of movement thus between a closed position inwhich it is disposed parallel to the bottom face, occluding the opening,and an open position in which it is distanced from the opening.
 7. Awrapper as in claim 3, wherein the cigarette packets are of prismaticgeometry, presenting a substantially triangular section.
 8. A wrapper asin claim 7, wherein the packets are disposed inside the wrapper withrespective longitudinal axes extending perpendicular to thepredominating longitudinal axis of the wrapper.
 9. A wrapper as in claim8, wherein the packets are arranged mutually parallel and in contact onewith another in such a way as to form at least one group of packetsappearing prismatic in shape and presenting a trapezoidal longitudinalsection.
 10. A wrapper as in claim 9, wherein the at least one group ofpackets comprises a first row of packets disposed with respective sidefaces offered to and resting on the bottom face, and a second row ofpackets disposed with respective side faces offered to and facing theaccess opening, in such a way as to interpose each packet of the secondrow between two corresponding packets of the first row.
 11. A wrapper asin claim 10, comprising at least two groups of packets positioned one ontop of another in such a way as to form a single group appearingprismatic in shape and presenting a longitudinal trapezoidal section.12. A wrapper as in claim 1, further comprising a protective overwrapfashioned from transparent and heat-shrinkable material.
 13. A wrapperas in claim 1, fashioned from a flat diecut blank of wrapping materialwith an axis of symmetry disposed transversely to the predominatinglongitudinal axis, presenting two transverse crease lines, also aplurality of precreased areas extending parallel to the longitudinalaxis, delimiting a plurality of longitudinal panels compassed betweenthe transverse crease lines and coinciding with the faces of thewrapper, and at least one longitudinal connecting flap, wherein at leastone of the longitudinal panels presents two substantially rectangularopposite end folds, and at least two of the longitudinal panels presentrespective tongues at their two opposite ends, designed to unite andcombine with the respective end folds in forming the flank faces of thewrapper.
 14. A wrapper as in claim 13, wherein the panel presenting theend folds provides the bottom face, and the two panels presenting therespective tongues are positioned one on either side of the panelproviding the bottom face, in such a way as to provide the front faceand the rear face respectively.
 15. A wrapper as in claim 13, whereinthe two panels presenting the respective tongues are of isoscelestrapezoidal outline.
 16. A wrapper as in claim 14, wherein the blankcomprises at least one longitudinal panel providing the top face,positioned adjoining the panel that provides the rear face.
 17. Awrapper as in claim 16, wherein the longitudinal connecting flap is ofisosceles trapezoidal outline, joined to the longitudinal panelproviding the top face on the side remote from the panel providing therear face, and matchable to the longitudinal panel providing the frontface.